The army use deceptive tactics in order to mislead the Japanese in preparation for the crossing of the River Irrawaddy before the assault on the city of Mandalay, Burma.

A recce unit of the 2nd Division is shown preparing equipment including swimming fins, pistol and grenades, mask and surfboard for crossing a river in the Ondaw Sector. Soldiers move civilians, who are gathered on the roadside in bullock drawn carts, as though in preparation for an attack. This is in fact to fool nearby Japanese units that an attack is taking place in one area when in fact it will be in another. 29th Company RASC (Royal Army Service Corps) unload and test artillery ammunition.

Notes

Despite the dopesheet referring to an impending attack on Mandalay, at the time this film was shot 2nd Division had not yet crossed the Irrawaddy. They were delayed in doing so by a shortage of suitable rivercraft and crossed on 24 February 1945.

Deception operations such as these played an important role in disguising Allied intentions during the decisive Battles of Central Burma, such as the capture of Meiktila and Mandalay. In particular a deception scheme known as 'Cloak' was employed to mask IV Corps' intentions in crossing of the Irrawaddy at Pakokku.

For other film of the crossing of the Irrawaddy shot by both the British Army (JFU-series) and the RAF (ABY-series) see related items.